The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

Lastly, our feet that have run so swiftly to sacring and to the resurrection, that have run so fast to Idol service, to huntings, bear-baitings, and interludes on the Sabbath day, that have been so full of contemptuous disobedience, so ready to shed blood, so swift and nimble in dancing, so expert in carrying the things of other men, must now run to the Church of God, to the hearing of the word, to offer pure prayers, to receive the Sacraments, and must now run as fast from those profane exercises on the Lords day, they must now carry us to prisons, to sick persons, to the house of mourning, we must from henceforth number our steps, and order them a right, to the glory of God, and the good of our brethren. Thus it behoveth us to do, that will make claim with comfort to the death and resurrection of Christ, namely, as we desire to have our sins pardoned by his cross, so must we desire to have our sins in some measure pared away by the virtue of his cross; and as we desire to have the imputation of Christ his righteousness by his resurrection, so must we pray for the communication of his holiness in some measure to work in us righteousness by the power of his resurrection, labouring from henceforth to have our conversation in heaven, and being risen with Christ, to seek those things that are above, where Christ fitteth at the right hand of God, Colloss. 3. 1. But alas, many men would have him a Christ to answer for their sins, that they may be justified, but they labour not that he should crucify sin in them, whereby they might be mortified, and what is this, but to make a mock of Christ? And yet I do not here mind to exclude the forgiveness of sin by Christ, nay I rather grant a continual forgiveness of sin through Christ, adding only this, that as we desire to have our sins pardoned, so we should desire to have them purified. Neither do I dream of being clean without sin, or of any imagined perfection in this life; but I require that we should not wittingly and willingly lye in sin; and though we cannot come to perfection, yet to strive to come to perfection. For we are said to be new creatures not in being perfectly renewed, but in that we are in renewing, and finding the remnants of sin withstanding the work of new birth, we look for Christ a Redeemer to make an end of sin in us.

Lastly, our feete that haue runne so swiftly to sacring and to the resurrection, that haue runne so fast to Idoll seruice, to huntings, bearebaitings, and enterludes on the Sabbath day, that haue beene so full of contemptuous disobedience, so readie to shed blood, so swift and nimble in dauncing, so expert in carying the things of other men, must now runne to the Church of God, to the hearing of the word, to offer pure prayers, to receiue the Sacraments, and must now run as fast frō those prophane exercises on the Lords day, they must now carrie vs to prisons, to sick persons, to the house of moruning, we must from henceforth number our steps, and order them a right, to the glorie of God, and the good of our brethren. Thus it behoueth vs to doe, that will make claime with comfort to the death and resurrection of Christ, namely, as we desire to haue our sinnes pardoned by his crosse, so must we desire to haue our sinnes in some measure pared away by the vertue of his crosse; and as wee desire to haue the imputation of Christ his righteousnes by his resurrection, so must wee pray for the cōmunication of his holines in some measure to worke in vs righteousnes by the power of his resurrection, laboring from henceforth to haue our conuersation in heauen, and being risen with Christ, to seeke those things that are aboue, where Christ fitteth at the right hand of God, Colloss. 3. 1. But alas, many men would haue him a Christ to answere for their sinnes, that they may be iustified, but they labour not that hee should crucifie sinne in them, whereby they might be mortified, and what is this, but to make a mock of Christ? And yet I do not here mind to exclude the forgiuenes of sinne by Christ, nay I rather graunt a continuall forgiuenes of sinne through Christ, adding only this, that as we desire to haue our sinnes pardoned, so wee should desire to haue them purified. Neither do I dreame of being cleane without sinne, or of any imagined perfection in this life; but I require that we should not wittingly and willingly lye in sinne; and though we cannot come to perfection, yet to striue to come to perfection. For we are said to be new creatures not in being perfitly renewed, but in that we are in renewing, and finding the remnants of sinne withstanding the worke of new birth, wee looke for Christ a Redeemer to make an end of sinne in vs.